Football

Football Picked Sixth in Division in Pre-Season Poll

NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA-The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's football team has been picked to finish sixth in the Boyd Division in the third annual New England Football Conference pre-season poll.

The Corsairs were ranked ahead of MIT and Nichols in the Boyd Division. Defending champion Endicott led the Boyd poll with 62 points and five first place votes. Western New England, Salve Regina, Curry and Plymouth State trailed the Gulls, with Curry ranking second in terms of first place votes, receiving three. Endicott was chosen by nine of the league's 16 coaches to win the NEFC championship game and return to the NCAA Division III Championships.

Maine Maritime, the Corsairs' NEFC crossover opponent on September 17th, received six of the eight first place votes and was picked to finish first in the Bogan Division with 58 points; Framingham State was picked second, with Bridgewater State, which visits Cressy Field September 10th, chosen third. Massachusetts Maritime, Westfield State, Worcester State, Coast Guard and Fitchburg State were picked to round out the Bogan Division, with Framingham and Worcester each receiving a vote as potential conference champion.

"I found the poll very interesting, but not surprising," said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Mark Robichaud. "Endicott, Western New England and Salve have all improved dramatically in the last few years, and have become very tough opponents. Curry and Plymouth are very tough as well. We're going to have to be at our best, but I think we have the ability to surprise some people with how good we can be this season."

The schedule includes most of the conference powers. "Our schedule isn't easy, we are playing two of the top three teams from the other side at the start of the season," said Robichaud. "Our schedule will be very challenging."

This year's UMD schedule includes two of the top three teams in the Bogan Division in Maine Maritime and Bridgewater State, as well as a game against everyone in the Boyd Division. The Corsairs begin their 2011 season at home against Mount Ida Friday evening, September 2nd at 7:00 p.m.